Chapter 44 Weapon

Chapter 44: Weapons

Cui Ji's fists clenched suddenly, his eyes locked onto Cheng Ge.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Three seconds later, he slowly unclenched.

Cui Ji: Forget it. He probably couldn't handle one punch from me. I'll let it slide this time.

Cheng Ge had no idea he'd just dodged death, still feeling pretty smug.

Meanwhile, Zhou Zhan, who had witnessed Cheng Ge's entire show-off, felt like kneeling on the spot.

"From now on, you'll teach me archery!" Zhou Zhan grabbed Cheng Ge's wrist, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Cheng Ge glanced at him and asked, "Does your family know you're a pig?"

"No," Zhou Zhan blurted out.

"You're too slow to be my student."

Zhou Zhan: ""

"Ah... Cheng Ge!!! How dare you insult me!"

Zhou Zhan was slow on the uptake, then jumped up, furious, charging at Cheng Ge to punch him.

Cheng Ge ducked left and right, easily evading Zhou Zhan's attacks. "Your Highness, I'm guilty. I won't do it again."

It wasn't that Cheng Ge didn't want to take him on; he simply had no right to teach. He was just a tutor—how could he steal a general's job?

Cui Ji glanced at the sky, then turned his gaze to the two. "That's enough for today. I hope the Crown Prince and Second Prince practice hard when you get back."

Zhou Hao's eyes flickered between Cheng Ge and Cui Ji, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

...

After following Cui Ji out of the palace gate, Cheng Ge hopped into Cui Ji's carriage like it was nothing.

Cui Ji held a military strategy book, not giving Cheng Ge a single look.

Cheng Ge didn't pick up on Cui Ji's cold shoulder and helped himself to tea and snacks, even pouring a cup for him.

"You wanna play chess?" Cheng Ge, having only played a short game with Cui Ji last time, was itching to play again.

Hearing this, Cui Ji immediately recalled that dirty chess game with Cheng Ge, and he felt even more annoyed.

He just moved to another spot, planning to ignore the guy.

Seeing his dark face and him fidgeting, Cheng Ge blurted out, "Your hemorrhoids acting up?"

Cui Ji had enough. He threw the book aside, looked up at Cheng Ge, a murderous look in his eyes.

Then, he abruptly grabbed the tea in front of him and chugged it in one go, deciding to tough it out a bit longer.

Seeing this, Cheng Ge figured he was too embarrassed to admit it—after all, people back then were reserved, he understood that.

"Don't be afraid to see a doctor..."

Cui Ji: ""

Seeing he was in a bad mood, Cheng Ge decided not to bother him. He lifted the curtain on one side and glanced outside.

"Stop, stop the carriage!" Cheng Ge called to the driver.

Cui Ji frowned and waved for the driver to stop. Cheng Ge stood up and jumped out, but Cui Ji snapped, "Where are you going?"

But Cheng Ge was way too fast, not even hearing what Cui Ji said before disappearing.

Cui Ji poured himself another cup of tea.

Fortunately, Cheng Ge returned soon.

He was carrying something wrapped in thick oil paper.

Cheng Ge plopped it on the low table and quickly tore off the paper, revealing a roasted chicken.

With practiced ease, like a chicken-eating pro, Cheng Ge ripped off a whole drumstick using the paper as a grip.

"Here, eat this."

Cui Ji stared at the greasy drumstick but didn't take it.

Cheng Ge gnawed on his own drumstick, a confused look on his face, then it suddenly hit him.

"Oh, right, you've got hemorrhoids, so you can't eat this. I'll catch you some fish tomorrow instead." He pulled the drumstick back.

"I'm not sick," Cui Ji said, snatching the drumstick back, his face dark as thunder.

Cui Ji rarely ate outside food, and when he did, it was at restaurants. Eating something from a roadside stall like this was a first, but the taste was surprisingly good.

The two ate the roast chicken in silence, the only sound being their chewing.

After returning, Cheng Ge devoured another meal, eating as ferociously as ever.

The steward watched with a satisfied smile—this Young Master Cheng was easy to please.

After the meal, Cheng Ge, unusually, didn't head for a bath but kept staring at Cui Ji.

No one could withstand someone's intense gaze for three minutes.

Cui Ji was even worse—he couldn't hold out for thirty seconds. "Not full?"

Cheng Ge shook his head frantically, almost a blur. "I'm full! Are you full?"

Cui Ji looked at the half-bowl of soup left, set down his chopsticks, and said, "Full."

Cheng Ge immediately stood up, grabbed a cloth to quickly wipe Cui Ji's mouth, and pulled him outside. "Hurry, hurry."

Cui Ji, his leg not fully healed, walked slowly. He yanked his hand back. "What are you doing?"

"You lost today, didn't you? Now teach me martial arts."

Cui Ji: "..."

Cui Ji looked down at Cheng Ge. "Why do you want to learn martial arts? You're already past the right age."

"You already agreed, and you even took my apprenticeship gift."

"When did I take your apprenticeship gift?"

"That roast chicken—it hasn't even turned to crap yet, so don't try to weasel out of it."

Cui Ji: "..." This guy was fine, except for that damn mouth of his.

In the end, Cui Ji caved. Life always has a few things you can't control.

Cheng Ge got taken to the Cui family's weapon vault.

"For real, I can pick anything? You won't back out?" Cheng Ge's eyes lit up at the sight of all the shiny weapons inside.

Cui Ji turned and walked out. "Pick one and get out quick."

Cheng Ge wandered around the vault all excited, touching this sword and that spear.

Suddenly, his eyes got drawn to this huge thing, and they lit up.

"Holy crap, holy crap!!! This is so badass! It's like it was made for me."

Cui Ji sat in the courtyard, glancing toward the weapon vault every now and then.

After a while, a figure came dashing out, eyes full of excitement.

Cui Ji looked at him without thinking.

But one look, and Cui Ji's vision went black, then blacker, almost making him pass out.

There stood Cheng Ge, holding a pair of huge Sky-Shattering Hammers, one in each hand, backlit by the light.

These Sky-Shattering Hammers were made of black iron, pitch-black all over, with a thick layer of spikes covering the heads.

At first glance, they looked twice the size of Cheng Ge's head.

This was a trophy Cui Ji had taken while chasing down a big Northern Di general, and it had been sitting here ever since.

Cheng Ge, clutching the twin hammers, ran up to Cui Ji all happy. "This is it! From now on, I'm using this pair of Sky-Shattering Hammers. I'll be unstoppable!"

"No." Cui Ji's mouth twitched.

Cheng Ge's voice shot up. "Why? I want this! One swing with these, and I'll leave them black and blue." Cui Ji: And all over the place.